Method for propagating sugar beets



May 13, 1930.

W. B; ROSEVEAR 'METHOD FOR PROPAGATING SUGAR ,BEETS Filed March 16, 1929 ago 00000 a. po oo c005 0000.00

gwoznto Patented May' 13, 1930 WILLIAM B. nosnvnAn-"o'r froLE'no ioHro ME'ri-Ion non PnorAe r'InG soeaannnrs Application filed March 16, 1929.' Seria1 No. 347,642.-f

This invention relates to a method (if propagating sugar beets, which involves the planting of the seed in boxes in a cold frame" or the like, several weeks earlier than the 5 usual date for planting outoi doors andlater transplanting the youngplantsj'to the field.

where the beets are grown. 4 Hitherto it has beengenerally regarded as impractical, if not impossible, to transplant 10 small sugar beet plants successfully, due to the extremely delicate and fragile nature of the tap root, which, if it becomes broken,

causes the beet to grow clumpy, therebyrrendering it quite unprofitable as a source of beet 15 sugar. 7

With such conditions in mind, the primary object of the present invention is to provide" a method and means for propagating- "the young plants in such a manner that they may 9 be transplanted expeditiously and without injury, thereby gaining various advantage-s over the usual methodof planting the seedin; V the field without anyof the disadvantages heretofore encountered in all attempts which I 2 have been made to transplant them. a

My improved method, together with various accessories particularly adapted to be used in carrying. out such method, will be.

more fully described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, iii-which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a box containing a prepared seed bed, ,partsbeing broken away.

preferablyrectangular and which may be v 49 placed within a cold frame of usualconstr'uction. The box 5 has a foraminous bottom 6,,

composed of some suitable metal or alloy which will not rust and which may be formed of woven wire or in anyother suitable manner. One end or" the box, as indicated at 7 is hinged or otherwise arrangedso that it may be opened. The Walls of the box may be braced by any'suitable means to secure'a V I Inpropagating beets according to the above' p described method, there is a saving 'ofavery 1500 V, n

strong and substantial construction.

Figure 2 is a s milar View illustrating the Y The preferred-method of preparing the! S fill the box with dirt to it; Within m ror so of the top, so that when the seedis laid on the surface ofthedirt and ,bed; When the plate 8 has .beenflaid on the seed bed as shownin' Figure 2, seed is poured upon the same and spreadarormd'until all of 42. I

the holes 9 are filled.. The surplus seed is then scrapedofi. The plate is then removed and sufficient dirtis added to.;cover,the seed to the proper depth.j The provision of the foraminous bottom 6 has a threefold purpose. J9

It permit'sirrigation of theseed bed through .therbotto m of 'thef box from the ground on which the box rests." It permits inspection frombeneath when the box is li-fted,=-in,-order to determine' the proper time for transplanting,' which shouldbe about the time when the tap rootsreach the bottom of; the 'box.-" I It also permits. the dirtto be washed away from the roots of theplantsFthroughthe bottom of the box so thatthe-plants-may beeasil-yseparated frornfle'ach other withoutinjuringthe same; u In transplanting, the end'z is opened and water sprayed against the end o'fthe-seed 7 bed. Beginninggatyone end thereof; the dirt 555 isprogressively.Washedaway frorn the roots method, the 1 seed bed is prepared in a box 5, which is.

of the plants as the -latter areiprepared for transplantingfi The plants arethenlaid on a -moist surface, or paste-board, cloth or other absorbent material which may be saturated 9.9 with water, so thatthe roots are preventedfrom drying: out until they are again covered Wltll'diItp The field is prepared by opening pressed firmly aboutthe roots.

'tion'. .Thefurrow is then closed and the dirt large proportion of the seed usually required. 'The plants are set uniformly at equaldistances apart so that no blocking or thinning of the plantsis necessary in the field. A uni- 1 form stand and spacing isobtained with a resultant increase in yieldof forty to sixty percent oventhe yield obtained by;-t-he usual methods'.- The ayerage sugar content is greater because the beets are not disturbed or broken at'any time during; their growth.

The matured beets are therefore liiiiif'oihi iii shapeywhich facilitates the cutting, ofthe same. at the factory 'andenables the grower" to obtain the maximumrpricea The factory 715 may I start operationiat least. thirty days earlier than theusual tinne' sinceithe beets; started in a cold frame and set out in the field when the seasonv permits; mature much earlier than When' planted in the open'ground. a 'While" I hav'e described specifically the various steps of the process and the variousac cessories used in carryingf'out the same,= it is V tobeunderstoo'd thatth'esemay b elvaried considerably in repect to variousdetails, Without Q15 departing materially from thescope of the invention as claimed; 4 7

What Iclaimis-z' 1 r V 1. The process of raising-t'ap-root-seed lin'gs, comprising plantingthe} seed in an 5b above-ground earth filledbech an'd Washing c the earth from the roots? whilein the bed when the seedlings have grownsufficiently for transplanting. o L p Q P 2.- The roc'ess'a'of raising tapr'oot seed- W ling's, comprising planting the seed in an above-ground earth filled bed, and -progres-- siyely Washing the earth from the "roots wh n the seedlings have 'gI'OWLI'lQ sufiicie'ntly for transplanting; i I

it a'rhe process ofmis'ing p-r 5 huge, comprising planting the seed uniform-4 ly in close relationship in an above ground earth'fille'd bed, andwashing the ea-r'th' from the roots-While in the bed when the seedlings it have gr wn 'suificienuy for t-ransplantifig." 7

l; The process of raisingtap root seed- 'lings, comprising plantingthe seed uniform in close relationship in an above-ground I earth filled bed, andpr gi-e sive1y:washing a the earth from the roots nen theseedlings have grown ."suiilici ently for transplanting.

In testimon whereorwl hav h runto signedmy name'to this specification.

WIDLIVAM'BJROSEVE i 

